Filenews 10 June 2021
The European Centre for Disease Control, ECDC, today published a new risk assessment of the circulation of SARS-CoV-2, focusing on worrying mutations, non-pharmaceutical interventions and the availability of vaccines in the EU, where it considers that population immunity is far from being achieved in the EU/EEA and issues a warning of the risks of early lifting of measures.
The ECDC records that most countries in Europe report declining trends in COVID-19 14-day notification rates, the use of hospitals and intensive care units (ICU) and mortality.
However, SARS-CoV-2 transmission remains widespread in much of the EU/EEA. A large proportion of the population across Europe remains vulnerable to the virus and the immunity of the population is far from being achieved.
As of 3 June, the average cumulative intake of vaccines in the adult EU/EEA population (aged 18 years and over) reached 46.2% for at least one dose of vaccine and 22.3% for the full vaccination course. The highest level of vaccine intake was observed in the elderly aged 80+.
One of the main public health objectives in the current pandemic phase is to reduce severe disease and COVID-19 mortality by ensuring full vaccination for risk groups, including the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions.
The ECDC also notes that countries with a favourable epidemiological situation and progress towards high intake of vaccines in priority groups may consider adapting and phasing out their non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) after a careful assessment of their local status.
The Disease Control Centre considers that decisions to facilitate measures should be particularly careful in the local context and include estimates of current viral circulation, prevalence of worrying mutations (VOCs) and vaccination status.
Modelling analysis shows that a significant increase in COVID-19-related cases in the EU/EEA remains possible if NRI relaxes very quickly.
The emergence and spread of anxiety mutations, which are potentially more contagious or cause more serious illness or escape from natural or vaccine-induced immunity, require strong surveillance measures and enhanced measures to stop, delay or reduce the spread.
The risk of new variants entering the EU is closely related to the evolution of the pandemic both inside and outside the EU, he says.
Efforts to ensure fairer access to vaccination worldwide can mitigate the risk of new variants, the ECDC believes.
It warns that the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 from travel-related cases, including new variants of viruses, may play a role in triggering increased community transmission of COVID-19, particularly when transmission levels at the receiving site are low.
Therefore, carefully and strictly implemented travel measures can have an impact on the introduction and further transmission of new virus mutations, or on the reintroduction of any form of virus, if local transmission levels are low.
For events with the potential to create mass gatherings, such as UEFA Euro 2020, the monitoring of the epidemiological situation and the implementation of preventive measures should be carried out with a coordinated cross-departmental approach.
Dr . Andrea Ammon, Director of ECDC said that "there are very few people who have been fully vaccinated to get to the immunity of the population. Decisions to facilitate measures should be particularly careful in the local context and should include estimates of current viral circulation, prevalence of alarming mutations and vaccination coverage."
KYPE
